Audi service vs independant garage

[M12RJX]

Morning all

I want to get a early service done on my 2014 s3 before the light comes up as per trip computer it advises late December but thought id get it done now,its just under 31k and was last serviced at 18k by Audi then a pre service inspection at 21k to when I bought it in November 2017. has had a oil change in between that time too.

Been told it needs a major service now this is the question I need your help/opinions on.

first service was carried out by Audi do I continue with there service history and pay the £475 charge which includes haldex service.

or do I pay the exact same amount and go to someone like VRS Northampton for the same service but they will do the haldex correctly.

car is on pcp so I don't know how it will effect me if i was to upgrade in a few years time or if it will make no difference at all.

wanted your guys opinion on service history being by Audi or independent?

 

[Damo S]

Tricky one wrt the haldex part. Perhaps use an independant to do the haldex work separately since that wont be on the Audi schedule until 40k, otherwise get Audi to do the service whilst its still under warranty. If you get all the work done elsewhere and something major goes wrong, such as engine failure, you have to tell them it was serviced elsewhere they will probably try to blame the other garage and void the warranty. It shouldn't be like this but sadly it is.

 

[M12RJX]

my car only had a years warranty that expired November 18. or did you mean the warrantied parts they use on the service?

 

[oli356]

Bare in mind some indies can update the service history, this is mine for example.. The top one is indy, the difference is that it doesn't say authorised audi partner:yes.
What I've just noticed is that the haldex isn't shown in there, not sure if it would be if an Audi dealer did it though either.

 

[HertS3]

@oli356 that's good - what system do they use to update the service history? I had major service done at a friend's place (indy) as soon as I bought my S3 (as my colleague had it from new and she had no idea what a Haldex was!) but I don't think that they're able to update the service history. Less of an issue for me as I intend to keep my S3 long-term, so as long as I know it's been serviced fully (and I'm keeping all paperwork of course) that's fine for me.

 

[M12RJX]

i get what you mean if a lot indy garages could upload documents like audi that would be great but a lot don't, I just don't know what to do as they are both quoting the same price so wasn't sure on who to go with.

 

[HertS3]

I would say what @Damo S said sounds logical - use main stealer for the service but do the Haldex at the independent, just make sure you keep the paperwork if they can't update online record to show that it's been done. Other option is do everything at the main dealer and either clean the Haldex gauze yourself or take to indy to do for additional charge.

 

[Damo S]

my car only had a years warranty that expired November 18. or did you mean the warrantied parts they use on the service?

Ah right in that case indi all the way.

 

[oli356]

@oli356 that's good - what system do they use to update the service history? I had major service done at a friend's place (indy) as soon as I bought my S3 (as my colleague had it from new and she had no idea what a Haldex was!) but I don't think that they're able to update the service history. Less of an issue for me as I intend to keep my S3 long-term, so as long as I know it's been serviced fully (and I'm keeping all paperwork of course) that's fine for me.

Not sure of the system name, but there do seem to be a few VAG specialists about that can update the service record, worth asking.. I wasn't going to take mine to somewhere which didn't update it..

Though the place I went to doesn't clean the gauge when doing the haldex service, only change the oil I asked, but they wouldn't do it...

 

[HertS3]

That's dumb (if you ask, surely they should comply) - so what did you do about cleaning it?

 

[M12RJX]

that' is the same problem I am finding I was going to now just get the service done from audi and haldex done from indy garage but so many of them keep saying we only do the oil change It does not need a filter clean which Is so annoying lol, I'm no good at diy before anyone says just do it yourself lol

 

[HertS3]

Yeah I didn't do it myself but apparently it's very easy, I would think that you need to jack the car up to get decent access to the filter and of course you need the right tools to unscrew the cap.

 

[T-800]

Service can be recorded via Erwin online.
Authorised users can update on there using their ID

 

[oli356]

Yeah I didn't do it myself but apparently it's very easy, I would think that you need to jack the car up to get decent access to the filter and of course you need the right tools to unscrew the cap.

Yes it doesn't look hard.... the place I went said that Audi don't (or recommend it) at first they actually said its not good for the car....

So currently mine is not cleaned ... I'm probably just going to leave it till next year and find an indy that will clean it. Though I will be 40k~ miles then, but try and do it myself before then, but means the £100~ I spent on asking them to do the service is wasted as will need new oil etc anyway.

 

[msdmjb]

When I had my haldex pump replaced under warranty at 4years old Audi were going to refuse the claim unless I had had the haldex oil change.
Wasn't a drama as the same dealer had done it but the service guy didn't initially realise and was interesting how quickly he was going down the refuse route.

Very easy to do with access to the underside.

 

[Adam14]

The indy would need to have a licence for the Audi online system I believe, I'm more surprised that the indy is the same price as a stealer. Personally I'm taking my car to my local indy, who specialises in Audi and performance vehicles, a lot cheaper and actually understands the car better than Audi.
As long as the indy can include on an invoice or report to prove genuine OEM parts were used warranty should remain intact.

 

[M12RJX]

Ur 100 percent right i have been quoted £200 for a major service from a local friends garage as opposed to audis £375 quote! He has told me they order the parts from the same place as audi and can give me the invoice showing this so il do that instead!
Thanks for ur help head was in a right pickle debating this

 

[RichardT]

Morning all

I want to get a early service done on my 2014 s3 before the light comes up as per trip computer it advises late December but thought id get it done now,its just under 31k and was last serviced at 18k by Audi then a pre service inspection at 21k to when I bought it in November 2017. has had a oil change in between that time too.

Been told it needs a major service now this is the question I need your help/opinions on.

first service was carried out by Audi do I continue with there service history and pay the £475 charge which includes haldex service.

or do I pay the exact same amount and go to someone like VRS Northampton for the same service but they will do the haldex correctly.

car is on pcp so I don't know how it will effect me if i was to upgrade in a few years time or if it will make no difference at all.

wanted your guys opinion on service history being by Audi or independent?

Just looking at you mileage - you are doing less than 10K per annum, so should be on fixed schedule (ie getting annual service)